Told in two different POVs and timelines My Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth is a dark psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns and an explosive ending making it an engrossing read .

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

“Darling Girls" is psychological mystery, showcasing Sally Hepworth's unwavering talent for storytelling. The narrative revolves around three kindred spirits who form an unbreakable bond under the roof of the same foster care home, united in their efforts to shield themselves from the clutches of their malevolent foster mother, Holly Fairchild. Holly employs cunning manipulations to subject the girls to a series of psychological games, leaving scars that linger long after they escape her clutches.

Jessica, who entered Miss Fairchild's care at the tender age of five. Desperate for her foster mother's affection, Jessica unknowingly endures isolation due to Holly's controlling ways. Norah, an eleven-year-old with a walking-violence, and Alicia, a gentle twelve-year-old who joins them following her grandmother's accident, complete the trio. These girls endure Holly's physical and mental torment for nearly two years until the abuse escalates to a breaking point, forcing them to confront the horrors they have endured.

After 25 years, Jessica's successful life crumbles as she's caught stealing drugs from a client's home, succumbing to her own struggles with addiction and estrangement from her husband. Norah battles her inner demons, struggling with anger issues and facing the threat of imprisonment. Alicia, now a social worker, strives to find children safe homes while grappling with her own insecurities, hindering her chances at a healthy relationship and a family of her own. A haunting call from law enforcement informs them that they found human bones beneath the farmhouse they long to forget. As they return to the place that shattered their innocence and futures, they confront the painful past of them.

This heart-wrenching narrative deftly moves between past and present, granting readers insight into these three women's characters as they forge their defense mechanisms for survival. The breathtaking revelations that unfold within the gripping mystery will leave you stunned and deeply moved. Each of the three protagonists resonates powerfully, the culminating moments had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the stunning twist that was delivered with precision. So, I wholeheartedly grant "Darling Girls" a five-star rating because this book sheds light on women's empowerment and mental health awareness, adding depth to its dark and sorrowful past.

Trigger warning: infant/child abuse. Infant/child neglect. Infant/child death. Addiction. OD. Sex abuse. Child exploitation.
I had to post those because I didn't realize how triggering it was going to be until I was in the midst of it. Normally I'm really pretty good with all content and maybe I'm just extra sensitive right now but oof, this one was hard.

This takes place from dual timelines. Before and After. POVs are from the three sisters, Jessica, Alicia and Norah who came to live with Miss Fairchild over the years at Wild Meadows. Now while they're not sisters by blood, they have such a deep connection and bond. That was something beautiful to read in a book with hard topics such as this. They were failed by the foster system, the police, by every adult they reached out to. They thought they were free until they're called back when bones are discovered.

You're also getting a POV from a fourth perspective going through therapy. Which is also hard to read.

I won't say much else other than the author really knows how to suck you and involve you into her writing. While the subject matter is extremely descriptive and hard to read, I still love the author. I can't say I love the book because of the content but I do love the way the three girls are written and how they've each overcome their own issues...or work towards it.

Also that end. Ugh. Hate it. But only because..well, you'll see. Unfortunately I feel like there are people who know how to work the system to their advantage like that.

Loved loved loved this!! Second Sally Hepworth book I have read and they just keep getting better.

The plot was great and kept me intrigued the whole time with the ending tying up the loose ties seamlessly!

Thanks NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my review

I thought I had things figured out with the typical thriller “twist” but I was wrong and thoroughly enjoyed reading.

I like Sally Hepworth's books, but I didn't like the direction the story was taking. The was a DNF for me, but I will ready other books by this author.

Oh boy, this was FANTASTIC!

This was my first Sally Hepworth novel so I was very thankful to both Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It's a story I'm certain I've read before, foster children confronting terrors of their upbringing. But, this has got to be one of the snappiest, well paced and downright enjoyable representations I've seen.

Three sisters act as the main characters thrust into the middle of a police investigation in their childhood home. Each character has her own subplot which may not serve the main storyline but helps flesh them out as characters. We really get to understand who they are and why they act the way they do.

One of the more impressive feats is how well their childhood is crafted. None of the abuse is embellished or exaggerated, it's extremely plausible and there is a direct correlation between what happens to them in the past and how they act in the present.

Similar to novels by Ashley Audrain, it was trending well overall but the ending absolutely clinched it.

With three individually flawed, yet likeable and relatable characters, Darling Girls pulled me in from the very beginning with a multi-POV format that details the trauma and abuse inflicted on young foster children under the care of Miss Fairchild. I was astonished at the seemingly unprovoked strokes of evil, but loved how it came together in the end with a - not necessarily redemptive - explanation but an explanation nonetheless. Having spoken out about the abuse before and not been believed, Norah, Jessica and Alicia continue to stand by each other through the countless new revelations surrounding what really happened during their fractured childhood. Failed by the people who were supposed to protect them, they vow to protect each other.

Jessica, Alicia, and Norah are not biological sisters, but they are sisters in every way that counts. The three girls were foster children at Wild Meadows, a home owned by Miss Fairchild. On the outside, the home and Miss Fairchild seemed like the ideal place for any children, but only the girls knew the truth. Now, many years later, the three girls are all grown when they are called back to Wild Meadows. A child's body has been discovered underneath the remnants of the house. They reluctantly return to face their fears and the truth.
This one started out really slow for me, but I am a big fan of Sally Hepworth and I knew she would not disappoint. I am glad I stuck with it because the ending was totally worth it! The characters were well written, Miss Fairchild was definitely interesting! Of all the girls, I think I liked Alicia best, but I appreciated how each girl dealt with their trauma differently. The ending is always unexpected with Hepworth books and this one was perfectly done.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! When I was thinking about how to start writing this review, the one word I could come up with was WOW! Darling girls by Sally Hepworth is a disturbing psychological thriller with a slow burn. Jessica, Norah and Alicia have been sisters since their teens in every way but blood. All foster children, they lived with Miss Fairchild who manipulated them in the worst way possible. When Amy comes into their lives, a cute toddler with blond hair and blue eyes, they finally start to understand their situation and decide to do something about it. Flash forward twenty years, the three girls are still thick as thieves but a discovery in their childhood home takes them back to the small town to which they never thought they’d return. Confronting their past brings them both closer together and nearly tears them apart. This novel is my third by Sally Hepworth and she didn’t disappoint. The twist at the end was a definite surprise that gave me chills. I definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC copy!

Title: Darling Girls
Author: Sally Hepworth
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Format: E-book
Pub date: April 23rd 2024

My review ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

I was very hyped and excited to read this ARC. I saw fantastic reviews for this book on Instagram. This is my 2nd book by the author, Sally Hepworth (I read The Soulmate this year).

I really liked the book for the majority. I found it was a bit slow and dragged at places. I'm a fan of fast paced, on the edge of your seat thrillers.

By the end of the book, I thought I had it figured out but the twists surprised me! I couldn't stop reading and I stayed way past my bedtime to finish it.

I rate this book a 4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

I stuck with this twisting plot, but didn’t enjoy the unreliable narrators’ (plural) stories. I usually like Sally Hepworth’s fiction books, but this one gave me a headache. There were too many main characters in addition to side characters all with narratives from different times. When I finally got to chapter 60 which gave an answer to one main plot point, I wondered why this talented author couldn’t have organized her book in a less complicated way.

darling Girls is another thriller done right by Sally Hepworth! sally always puts together plots that feel like they haven’t been done before and I find myself finishing them in 24 hours just to see what happens in the end. darling girls follows three children in foster care throughout their childhood and adult lives. They spend a year together at the hands of an abusive foster mother, and then are brought back to the location as adults due to a crime at the location of the foster home. At times it was difficult to read about the trauma these women endured, especially knowing they are unfortunately not alone in some of their experiences. Another must read by Sally!

I received a NetGalley on this book.
This is another excellent twisty story from Sally Hepworth. I got invested in the main characters very early on, and that made this a page-turner. I was able to figure out parts of the story early on, but mostly I was kept guessing throughout the action. I am partial to a story that wraps up all the details AND dishes out what everyone has coming to them, and I'd say Ms. Hepworth got 90% of the way there. Overall, it's a very satisfying read.

Alicia, Norah, and Jessica grew up in a foster home with an abusive foster mother. As young teens they manage to get away and are determined to stay together. Now, as adults, they consider themselves sisters. When an investigation into their old foster home is opened, the 3 come back together to speak with the detectives. But there is still a lot of childhood trauma there.

Sally Hepworth has done an incredible job with this domestic thriller! Great use of multiple POV and past/present timelines. The character development and backstories are all very well written. And the story unfolded so well. Pacing was perfect. Great read, I think this is Sally Hepworth’s best novel to date!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. 5⭐️ publication date April 23, 2024

Forever an auto-buy author for me, Sally Hepworth did it again. I enjoyed how parts were told through therapy sessions. This story ratcheted up the tension slowly but the pay-off was worth the wait.

I enjoyed the idea of foster children finding and developing chosen family amidst trauma. I felt intrigued by the ways these characters kept so much hidden from the people closest to them, as if their role in chosen family system could not be altered or adapted. What a complex and human limitation that we all can relate to and ponder as we read this novel. I would have enjoyed a deeper dive into that complexity. While the initial chapter felt disjointed for me, similar to chapters that focused on the therapist sessions, I engaged with the storyline easily and quickly. I found myself wanting more depth because I liked the characters and wanted more.

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the story and it kept me reading even when I should have been sleeping. This book is about 3 foster girls who bonded like sisters when they ended up in the same foster house together. It was hard to read about the abuse and the ways that it affected them even into their adult years. They were all brought back together many years later when bones were found beneath the house. That was an interesting mystery in the book, I was surprised how that turned out. I kind of had a thought of what had happened, but even then I was still surprised with the ending.

I would recommend this book to those who like psychological thrillers, family drama and twists and turns.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book.
All opinions are my own. Publication date: April 23, 2024

I really enjoyed this book. What a thriller! I sometimes don't enjoy a book told from different perspectives, but this was an integral part of the story, allows you to get to know each of the characters and constantly kept you guessing!

Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are best friends and met under bad circumstances. The conditions that they lived in were far from ideal, but this caused the girls to build a lasting connection and bond. that could not be broken.
Years later, you catch up to where they are now and the story doesn't stop! Jessica, Norah, and Alicia are forced to face the horrors of their past and try to solve a mystery that has tormented them for many years.

The author did a wonderful job explaining how different people can handle traumatic experiences in different ways and also that the effects of those experiences can manifest differently in each person. Great book for a book club!

Sally Hepworth is an amazing writer! Darling Girls is a domestic thriller of three foster 'sisters' and their haunted pasts. Miss Fairchild, the creepy Foster parent is abusive and neglects all who is put in her care. The characters are well developed and the twists are mind blowing!
Thank you St. Martins & Net Galley for the ARC.
Highly Recommend!